Bajwa for support to Gujarat Sikhs

Accusing chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of ignoring the interests of the Sikhs living in Kutch area of Gujarat, who have been forced to leave the state, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa said on Wednesday that the Congress would help the community fight injustice.

"We would provide every possible help; moral, legal or otherwise to the victims and seek Central government's intervention in the matter", said Bajwa.

He said it was most unfortunate that people who had been living in Gujarat for decades and had become registered voters of that state, had suddenly been asked to sell their lands and leave.

"It has once again exposed the communal face of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. People knew his aversion for muslims but now his anti-sikh face has also been exposed", he added.

Referring to Modi's Madhopur visit, where a special cook was flown in to cook food for him, Bajwa retorted that a man who was not ready to taste Punjab's water, could never accept its identity.

"A man who loathes every religion except his own, can never be a Prime Ministerial candidate", he said, adding that the country needed secular leadership.

"The country cannot remain united under the umbrella of fanaticism", he added.

The PPCC president said that a total chaos prevailed in Punjab as the alliance partners were working at cross purposes. He said that it was for the first time that deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had spoken the truth when he said that all important decisions, be it imposition of property tax, or e-TRIP policy, were taken in consultations with the BJP.

"The junior Badal has exposed the BJP which was befooling the urban population by saying that it was fighting their cause with its senior partner. The SAD and BJP should decide and tell the public which one of them was speaking the truth", said Bajwa.

Taking dig on SAD members of Lok Sabha who, according to a report, are the richest among all the MPs, each with an average wealth of Rs.6.02 crore, he said that it was a strong indicator of corruption by the ruling family of Punjab.

He said that Harsimrat Kaur Badal was among the 10 richest MPs of India with assets worth Rs.60 crore. “Badal family governs Punjab primarily to serve its own interests", he added.

Responding to a query about alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party, he said that such matters are decided at the Centre. He, however, said that he was in favour of forming a 'secular' alliance in Punjab.

"So far we have not had one to one talks with Manpreet Badal but I have always advocated an alliance with like minded secular parties", he replied when asked about pact with the PPP for parliamentary elections.

Earlier addressing a rally in Davida Ahrana village, he said that alliance government in Punjab was most corrupt and directionless, law and order was at lowest ebb, health and education are in worst condition and promises made with the dalits and BPL families were not fulfilled.

The people of Punjab were waiting for an opportunity to teach a lesson to this government, he added.

He said that the 2014 Parliament election was an appropriate opportunity for people to get rid of the ruling alliance.

Later, he visited 108 Sant Narain Dass school for blind and handicapped at Mahilpur and spent time with the school children and offered them food items.

He also visited a slum colony in Phuglana village and asked party workers to provide needed medical aid to slum dwellers.